The Foreign Service Journal, June 2014

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2014 11 Share your thoughts about this month’s issue. Send your letters to journal@afsa.org by Foreign Service authors (“InTheir Own Write”). In reading the Novem- ber 2013 edition, I noticed that several of the authors used a self-publishing service called CreateSpace. I researched the option and then used it to publish my new book, Acciden- tal Patriot: A Diplomat’s Journey in Africa Rediscovering America . Although I had secured a literary agent (and also the required State Department clearances), I was unable to interest a publishing house in the project. Thank you for leading me to Create- Space so that I could realize my goal of becoming an author. Kirsten Bauman FSO Embassy Seoul Millennial Spouses, Relax! As a trailing spouse myself, I’d like to respond to the March article by Jessie Bryson ( “A ‘Trailing’ Spouse?” ). It seems to me that many Foreign Service spouses spend a lot of time trying to justify their existence. This is unfortunate, consid- ering all the fascinating opportunities available to us. First, we have the luxury of time to study the local language and to go out and practice it in our neighborhood. Not good at learning languages? Neither am I, but it’s still fun to try, and good exercise for the brain. Regardless of proficiency level, one will inevitably pick up cultural insights through language study. Also, we have the opportunity to read up on the history of the city, country and region of the world in which we happen to be living at any given time, explore those places, and photograph and write about them. Rather than fret over what others think of our role as trailing spouse, we can instead thank our lucky stars for having landed in a unique and interesting position that provides us with end- less opportunities to learn new languages and explore many different places in the world. Qani Belul Embassy Manila Inherent Conflict I congratulate AFSA on the March issue of the Journal . I spent a whole eve- ning reading it, something I don’t recall ever doing before. AFSA’s Governing Board and employ- ees have attenuated as much as possible the inherent conflict between AFSA’s roles as both a labor union and a professional organization. My compliments on that. I would like to see AFSA set up an online “Speaking Out” forum where members and guests can post and debate their views on foreign policy issues in real time. I don’t think the AFSA Facebook site fills that need. Carl Bastiani FSO, retired McCormick, S.C. n